Laundry machine

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a laundry machine, which can wash or dry laundry. The laundry machine includes a housing provided between a washing tub unit and a mounting surface, on which a cabinet containing the washing tub unit is installed; and dynamic vibration absorbers provided to the housing, and configured to offset vibration transmitted from the washing tub unit.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0003715, filed on Jan. 12, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a laundry machine, which can wash or dry laundry.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, washing machines are home appliances, which wash laundry, and drying machines are home appliances, which dry wet laundry. Recently, complex home appliances, which have both of functions of a washing machine and a drying machine, have been widely used. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, washing machines, drying machines, and home appliances, which have both of functions of a washing machine and drying machine, are commonly called laundry machines.

The laundry machines are generally divided into a top loading type and a front loading type according to the positions of laundry loaded into the machines. Further, the laundry machines are divided into a vertical axis type, in which a drum or a pulsator is rotated, and a horizontal type, in which a horizontally-laid drum is rotated, according to washing methods. Such horizontal type laundry machines include a drum washing machine or a drum drying machine.

The conventional laundry machines are mounted directly on a floor; that is, the typical mounting surface of a conventional laundry machine is the floor. A conventional front loading type laundry machine is provided with a low input, and thus causes an inconvenience of putting and taking laundry into and out of the laundry machine to a user. Accordingly, it is necessary to raise the height of the inlet of the laundry machine.

Hence, for a user's convenience, a housing 100 may be installed under a laundry machine 10 for the purpose of raising the height of the laundry machine 10, as shown in FIG. 1.

However, when the laundry machine 10 is mounted on the housing 100, the vibration of the laundry machine 10 is further increased in comparison to when the housing 100 is not used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a laundry machine.

One advantage of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine, which can reduce vibration even though a housing is provided.

To achieve this and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a laundry machine comprises a housing provided between a washing tub unit and a mounting surface, on which a cabinet containing the washing tub unit is installed; and dynamic vibration absorbers provided to the housing, and configured to offset vibration transmitted from the washing tub unit.

Each of the dynamic vibration absorbers may include a mass body having a designated mass; and elastic members configured to elastically suspend the mass body.

The housing may include side panels forming respective outer walls; and the dynamic vibration absorbers may be provided between the side panels.

The dynamic vibration absorbers may be provided adjacent to an upper surface of the housing.

The laundry machine may further comprise a moving body received in the housing or drawn out of the housing.

An inner space for receiving articles may be formed in the moving body.

The dynamic vibration absorbers may be provided between an upper surface of the moving body and an upper panel of the housing.

The dynamic vibration absorbers may be provided between the rear surface of the moving body and a rear panel of the housing.

The housing may be a frame having at least two rods connected for forming a designated inner space therein.

The dynamic vibration absorbers may be provided between the rods of the frame.

The dynamic vibration absorbers may be provided along the rods of the frame.

At least one of the dynamic vibration absorbers may further include a case containing the mass body and the elastic members.

The laundry machine may further comprise amplitude limit parts configured to limit the amplitude of movement of the mass body within a designated range within the case.

The laundry machine may further comprise a guide configured to guide the mass body so that the mass body can be vibrated in a regular direction.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry machine mounted on the upper surface of a housing;

FIG. 2 is a graph respectively illustrating displacements of vibration of a laundry machine with a housing and a laundry machine without a housing;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a laundry machine, which, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a housing provided with dynamic vibration absorbers;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the housing of the laundry machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the housing of the laundry machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the dynamic vibration absorbers of the laundry machine in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the housing of the laundry machine in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a laundry machine, which, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a housing provided with dynamic vibration absorbers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the laundry machine 10 of the present invention includes a cabinet 1 forming the external appearance of the laundry machine 10, and a washing tub unit 2 provided in the cabinet 1.

The cabinet 1 includes a front cover 12 (with reference to FIG. 1) forming the front surface of the cabinet 1, cabinet sides 16 forming both side surfaces of the cabinet 1, a cabinet rear (not shown) forming the rear surface of the cabinet 1, a top plate 18 forming the top surface of the cabinet 1, and a base 1 a forming the bottom surface of the cabinet 1.

A door 7 is provided on the front cover 12 (both with reference to FIG. 1) of the cabinet 1, and a control panel 8 (with reference to FIG. 1) for allowing a user to operate the laundry machine 10 is provided on the upper portion of the front surface of the cabinet 1.

The washing tub unit 2 includes a tub 2 a configured to store washing water, and a drum 2 b rotatably disposed in the tub 2 a.

The tub 2 a and the drum 2 b are respectively provided with openings such that the openings are communicated with the outside so as to put and take laundry into and out of the washing tub unit 2 when the door 7 is opened. Further, the drum 2 b is rotated by a motor (not shown), and is provided with a plurality of lifters 3 a formed on the inner surface of the drum 2 b, thus performing washing of the laundry by a method, in which the laundry in the drum 2 b is lifted up and then is dropped when the drum 2 b is rotated.

In the case that a door of a laundry machine is formed on the front surface of a cabinet, and the legs of the cabinet are mounted on a floor, a user must bend over so as to put or take laundry into or out of the washing tub unit. Accordingly, in order to prevent the user from excessively bending over, the washing tub unit needs to be located at a designated height suitable for a user's ease of use.

In order to raise the height of an inlet of the laundry machine 10 and thus allow the user to easily put or take laundry into or out of the washing tub unit 2, a housing 100 is installed between the washing tub unit 2 of the laundry machine 10 and a mounting surface of the laundry machine 10.

The housing 100 has a predetermined height, and thus raises the height of the washing tub unit 2. The housing 100 has an approximately hexahedral shape, and the cabinet 1, provided with the washing tub unit 2 therein, is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 100.

A moving body 140, such as a drawer, is further provided in the housing 100. The moving body 140 can be received in the housing 100, or be drawn out of the housing 100.

The moving body 140 is provided with an inner space formed therein for receiving articles, so as to receive articles necessary to wash the laundry, or form a washing space separately from the washing tub unit 2 provided in the cabinet 1.

The housing 100 is formed by connecting side panels 104 to the side surfaces of a base panel 102, provided with legs 190 formed on the lower surface thereof, and connecting an upper panel 106 to the upper surfaces of the side panels 104. Legs 190 may include anti-vibration members, similar to those that may be found in legs 9. A rear surface, not shown, may be provided. An opening 12 for passing the moving body 140 therethrough is formed at the front of the housing 100. The opening 12 may be bordered by base panel 102, right and left side panels 104, and upper panel 106.

Thus, the laundry machine 10 may be raised by a predetermined height by use of the housing 100. Because the laundry machine 10 is raised, the washing tub unit 2, within the laundry machine 10, is also raised. Raising the laundry machine 10, with its included washing tub unit 2, allows a user to put or take laundry into or out of the washing tub unit 2 with less bending over than if the laundry machine 10 had not been raised by use of the housing 100. Therefore, use of the housing 100, in combination with the laundry machine 10, decreases a user's discomfort due to bending and thereby increases a user's convenience.

As described above, vibration generated from a laundry machine placed on top of a housing is much higher than vibration generated from a laundry machine that is placed directly on a floor (i.e., without a housing). Nevertheless, the conventional practice of reducing vibration of a combined laundry machine and housing mainly considered only the vibration of the laundry machine; the vibration of the housing was not considered.

According to the research of the inventors, in the case that the housing 100 is separately laid under the cabinet 1 (i.e., the housing and cabinet are separate structures), the support offered by the housing 100 is relatively weak, and the housing 100 has a resonant frequency lower than that of the laundry machine. Accordingly, the housing is easily resonated. Therefore, when a separate conventional housing is used in a conventional manner, the vibration of the laundry machine 10 is highly increased.

Anti-vibration members of the legs 9 of the laundry machine can reduce, to some degree, the transmission of the vibration, generated from the laundry machine, to the housing, but cannot completely reduce the transmission of the vibration. Because the housing has a low resonant frequency, it is relatively easily resonated. Accordingly, when the laundry machine is mounted on the housing, even if a small displacement is generated due to the vibration of the housing, the upper portion of the laundry machine has a high displacement. Thus, in the case that a conventional housing is used, the laundry machine, particularly the upper portion of the laundry machine, is highly vibrated transversally.

So far as it is known, those of skill in the art concentrated attention on the reduction of the vibration of only the laundry machine. Reduction of vibration of a housing, similar to housing 100, was not addressed. Further, when addressing the problem of the reduction of the vibration of the laundry machine, such as a washer, attention was concentrated on vibration in a dehydrating operation, in which the frequency of rotation of a motor is high. However, in the case that a conventional housing is used, the housing has a low resonant frequency and thus may be resonated not only during the dehydrating operation, but even in a washing or rinsing operation (or a drying operation), in which the frequency of rotation of the motor is relatively low. So far as it is known, the problem of reducing vibration of a conventional housing having a laundry machine mounted thereon has not been considered.

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention makes use of dynamic vibration absorbers 200 provided to the housing 100. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, and as shown in FIG. 3, a housing 100 may be provided between a washing tub unit 2 and a mounting surface 6 (such as a floor), on which a cabinet 1 containing the washing tub unit 2 is installed. Dynamic vibration absorbers 200 may be provided to the housing 100. The dynamic vibration absorbers 200 are configured to offset the vibration transmitted from the washing tub unit 2.

Each of the dynamic vibration absorbers 200, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a mass body 210 having a designated mass, and elastic members 220 configured to elastically suspend the mass body 210 therebetween.

By way of example, the elastic members 220 may be comprised of coil springs, compressed coil springs, expanded coil springs, or combinations thereof. Further, the elastic members 220 may be made of other materials having elasticity.

By way of example, the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 may be comprised of a pendulum type dynamic vibration absorber, a torsional dynamic vibration absorber, a multi-mass type dynamic vibration absorber, a cantilever type dynamic vibration absorber, or combinations thereof.

In operation, the mass body 210 suspended by the elastic members 220 is shaken by the vibration transmitted to the housing 100, and thus offsets vibration energy, thereby reducing the entire vibration of the housing 100 and the laundry machine 10.

In one embodiment, the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 are installed adjacent to the upper surface of the housing 100. More specifically, the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 are installed between the side panels 104 and are positioned adjacent to the upper surface of the housing 100, without interfering therewith. Further, in order to prevent the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 from interfering with the moving body 140 (e.g., a drawer), which is received in the housing 100 or is drawn out of the housing 100, the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 may be installed between a lower surface of the upper panel 106 and an upper surface of the moving body 140.

In one embodiment (not shown), the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 may be provided between the rear surface of the moving body 140 and the rear surface of the housing 100.

In the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 3, one side of each of a pair of the elastic members 220 is connected to the corresponding one of the side panels 104, and the mass body 210 is located between the elastic members 220. The mass of the mass body 210 and the modulus of elasticity of the elastic members 220 are properly determined in consideration of the specific frequency of vibration of the housing 100 and the frequency of vibration applied to the housing 100.

Preferably, the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 are installed in the transversal direction of the housing 100. At least one reason for this positioning is that the transversal vibration of the laundry machine 10 and the housing 100, among the vibrations of the laundry machine 10 due to the rotation of a motor, is the greatest from the structural point of view. Of course, when the direction of the vibration to be reduced is changed, the installation direction of the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 may be reevaluated and a new installation direction may be properly determined.

Although the above embodiment describes the housing 100 including the panels 102, 104, and 106 forming respective outer walls, the housing 100 may be made of a frame other than the panels.

FIG. 5 illustrates a frame type housing. In the frame type housing 300 of FIG. 5, at least two rods or other types of structural material 310 are connected to form a designated inner space therein. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, multiple pieces of resilient material such as metal may be bent at a right angle along their length dimensions and connected to form a frame type housing.

Further, although not shown in FIG. 5, a moving body, such as moving body 140 (FIG. 4), may be provided in the frame type housing 300, such that the moving body can be received in the housing 300 or be drawn out of the housing 300.

Dynamic vibration absorbers 200 are provided in the frame type housing 300. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the dynamic vibration absorbers 200 may be provided between at least two facing rods 310 with a free end of each elastic member 220 coupled to a respective one of the facing rods 310. Additionally or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, a dynamic vibration absorber 200 may be provided along the length of an individual one of the rods 310 by, for example, coupling the free ends of the elastic members 220 to predetermined separated positions along the length of the rod 310.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of dynamic vibration absorbers applied to the laundry machine of the present invention.

A dynamic vibration absorber module 400 includes elastic members 420, a mass body 410, and a case 430 for containing the elastic members 420 and the mass body 410.

That is, the elastic members 420 and the mass body 410 are contained in the case 430, and the case 430 also forms the external appearance of the dynamic vibration absorber module 400. Thus, each dynamic vibration absorber (such as 200 (FIG. 3)) is unified into one dynamic vibration absorber module 400.

A modular dynamic vibration absorber 400 may be more simply assembled with the laundry machine 10 or the housing 100 or 500 (FIG. 5) due to the reduction of the number of assembly steps. Further, moving elements, such as the mass body 410 and the elastic members 420 in each of the dynamic vibration absorbers 400, are isolated from the outside by the case 430, thereby preventing the generation of interference due to foreign substances covering the moving elements, and thus increasing the reliability of the dynamic vibration absorbers 400.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, ends of the elastic members 420 are fixed to the case 430, and the other ends of the elastic members 420 are fixed to the mass body 410. Thus, the mass body 410 is elastically supported by the case 430. Preferably, the elastic members 420 are provided at both ends of the mass body 410.

Therefore, the mass body 410 is vibrated in the case 430 by the vibration transmitted to the mass body 410. Here, in the case that the amplitude of the mass body 410 is excessively increased, the mass body 410 collides with the case 430, or if the elastic members 420 are coil springs, coils of the elastic members 420 collide with each other and thus generate an impact sound or vibration.

Thus, more preferably, each of the dynamic vibration absorber modules 400 further includes amplitude limit parts 440 configured to limit the amplitude of the movement of the mass body 410.

The amplitude limit parts 440 limit the amplitude of the movement of the mass body 410, thus preventing the collision of the mass body 410 with the case 430 or the collision between the coils of the coil springs.

Further, when the mass body 410 contacts the amplitude limit parts 440, an impact sound or vibration due to an impact may also be generated. Thus, it is preferable that the amplitude limit parts 440 are made of a material having elasticity or sound-absorbing character so as not to generate, or so as to minimize, an impact sound or vibration even when the mass body 410 collides with the amplitude limit parts 440.

A guide 450 for guiding the mass body 410 so as to allow the mass body 410 to vibrate only in a regular direction may further be provided.

Vibration only in one predetermined direction may be applied to the dynamic vibration absorber module 400, or vibrations in at least two directions may be applied to the dynamic vibration absorber modules 400. In the case that vibration in a direction, which does not coincide with the predetermined vibration direction of the mass body 410 of the dynamic vibration absorber module 400, is applied to the mass body 410, the mass body 410 vibrates in a direction other than a direction that was considered in design, and thus may collide with the case 430.

The guide 450 allows the mass body 410 to vibrate only in a regular direction, thereby preventing the collision between the mass body 410 and the case 430 and increasing reliability in operating the dynamic vibration absorber module 400.

The above guide 450 has the shape of a rail, which guides the vibration of the mass body 210 in the expanding and contracting direction of the elastic members 220. Other shapes and designs of guides are acceptable and within the scope of the invention.

Although the above embodiment, such as that of FIG. 3, describes the housing 100 provided at the outside of the cabinet 1 containing the washing tub unit 2, the installation position of the housing 100 is not limited thereto. That is, the housing 100 may be provided within the cabinet 1 and/or the housing 100 may be formed integrally with the cabinet 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment, in which a housing 500 is provided within a cabinet 15.

The housing 500 is installed between the washing tub unit 2 and the bottom surface of the laundry machine 20. Here, the bottom surface of the housing 500 may form the bottom surface of the cabinet 15 of the laundry machine 20. Alternatively, the housing 500 may be insertably installed in the cabinet 15.

When the housing 500 is formed integrally with the cabinet 15, as described above, the weight of the housing 500 is added to the weight of the cabinet 15 against the vibration of the washing tub unit 2, thereby reducing vibration in comparison to the case where the housing and laundry machine are separate units.

Further, when the housing 500 is formed integrally with the cabinet 15, the rigidity of the structure is increased in comparison to that when the housing is separable from the laundry machine. Thus, the structure comprised of a housing 500 formed integrally with a cabinet 15 results in less vibration in comparison to the case where the housing and laundry machine are separate units.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, one or more dynamic vibration absorber module(s) 400 may be mounted to a housing 500. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7, one vibration absorber module 400 is mounted in each of three orthogonal directions.

Embodiments of the above-described laundry machine of the present invention may exhibit the following effects:

First, a housing serves to raise the height of an inlet of the laundry machine and thus allows a user to put or take laundry into or out of a washing tub unit without excessively bending over, thereby increasing the user's convenience.

Second, dynamic vibration absorbers may be installed in the housing to offset vibration transmitted from the laundry machine, thereby reducing and effectively preventing the housing from being vibrated. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent vibration of the laundry machine mounted on the housing and noise due to the vibration.

Third, dynamic vibration absorbers may be respectively unified into a module and thus are simply assembled to the laundry machine and or housing. Modular dynamic vibration absorbers may reduce the incidence of mechanical interference between external foreign substances and the moving parts of the dynamic vibration absorbers.

Fourth, amplitude limit parts may be installed in each of the dynamic vibration absorber modules, and thus prevent collision of a mass body with a case or noise and vibration generated due to collision between coils of coil springs.

Fifth, a guide for guiding the vibration direction of the mass body may be provided in each of the dynamic vibration absorber modules, and thus allow the mass body to be vibrated in a regular direction, thereby preventing collision of the mass body with the case and increasing reliability in operating the dynamic vibration absorber.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A laundry machine comprising: a housing provided between a washing tub unit and a mounting surface, on which a cabinet containing the washing tub unit is installed; and dynamic vibration absorbers provided to the housing, and configured to offset vibration transmitted from the washing tub unit.
 2. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the dynamic vibration absorbers includes: a mass body having a designated mass; and elastic members configured to elastically suspend the mass body.
 3. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein: the housing includes side panels forming respective outer walls; and the dynamic vibration absorbers are provided between the side panels.
 4. The laundry machine according to claim 3, wherein the dynamic vibration absorbers are provided adjacent to an upper surface of the housing.
 5. The laundry machine according to claim 1, further comprising a moving body received in the housing or drawn out of the housing.
 6. The laundry machine according to claim 5, wherein an inner space for receiving articles is formed in the moving body.
 7. The laundry machine according to claim 5, wherein the dynamic vibration absorbers are provided between an upper surface of the moving body and an upper panel of the housing.
 8. The laundry machine according to claim 5, wherein the dynamic vibration absorbers are provided between a rear surface of the moving body and a rear panel of the housing.
 9. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a frame having at least two rods connected for forming a designated inner space therein.
 10. The laundry machine according to claim 9, wherein the dynamic vibration absorbers are provided between the rods of the frame.
 11. The laundry machine according to claim 9, wherein the dynamic vibration absorbers are provided along the rods of the frame.
 12. The laundry machine according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the dynamic vibration absorbers further includes a case containing the mass body and the elastic members.
 13. The laundry machine according to claim 12, further comprising amplitude limit parts configured to limit the amplitude of movement of the mass body within a designated range within the case.
 14. The laundry machine according to claim 12, further comprising a guide configured to guide the mass body so that the mass body can be vibrated in a regular direction. 